Faith, Family, Current Events

Main menu

Post navigation

Take Up Your Cross

This was an old Note from my facebook page 4 years ago that I felt compelled to share.

God never said that he would ensure us a life of the utmost comfort. Somehow over time we have concieved a mindset that we need to attempt to analyze the mind and heart of God to understand where he is taking us or what he is trying to use us for. I assure you that no analytical man or woman can fully understand the mind of God. It is simply our duty to follow, even when we can’t see the very next step. We simply walk by faith and know that the step of the righteous are ordered by our father.

When we accept the calling of God on our lives we are accepting a life of persecution and testing. We will be persecuted by the very people that we are attempting to reach and sadly enough, by the same people we should be fighting beside. Jesus was persecuted more than anyone and if the son of God lived a life of suffering than why would we think that we would be any different?? In fact, if you aren’t being persecuted then i dare say that you aren’t in the right place or you took a wrong turn somewhere. We will also be tested by the very God that called us, but this is only to prepare us and strenghten us for the battles that lay ahead of us. In these days the battles will rage on with more fierocity then ever and if we aren’t willing to endure the small tests that we are currently facing then we don’t stand a chance when all hell breaks loose, literally. (Romans 5:3)

The gospel message is more confrontational then we may even realize. We look at things from the inside out, but we essentially are telling people that they need to completely change their lives and rewire their beliefs, values, lifestyle, and their concept of truth. This is no easy task because human nature in general is stubborn and unwilling to adapt to drastic changes. We need to realize that we won’t always be welcomed with opened arms, softened hearts, or ears that are willing to listen. It is because of this that we must further more rely on the anointing and power of God. We go where he sends us and do what he tells us and rely on him to do the rest, meanwhile we suck up any temporary persecusion that we may endure. (1 Peter 5:9)

It is so vital in these last hours that the persecuted saints stand together arm in arm and fight for one another. No more saint on saint violence. No more Baptist vs. Pentecostal, AG vs COGIC, Us vs. Them. We must stand in unison and relish the powerful host of siants we are currently surrounded by and fight this fight together or else the entire body of Christ is vulnerable to extinction. The war for souls is being won by the world, not because they are stronger or smarter but simply because there are too many casualties due to friendly fire on our side of this battle. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

This is a message of encouragement to the persecuted, tired, stressed, and weary saints that have recieved the calling and anointing of God on thier lives…. The Lord has already gone before us and made a path for us each individually and corporately, if we follow in his steps we will never be led astray. The Lord is the one that fights our battles, it is not won through flesh and blood but through hitting our knees and pressing into the throne of the most high God. We are his beloved and we can find rest in the shadows od his wings anytime the storms seem to not cease or we are battle worn. He is our refuge and in him we will find rest.

We need each other now more then ever so please join me and embrace this life that not many are willing to commit too. The end is fast approaching and it’s time we take on this world with a new sense of urgency. It’s time the body of Christ stands up and takes the offensive side of this war and quit being defensive and trying to please others or worry about temporary issues, stop being cowards and fight… as if our lives depend on it, because THEY DO! and so many more.. We need to daily apply the armor that we were instructed to….

Ephesians 6:10-1810Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded of what exactly we’re saying yes too. There are so many benifits and blessings to recieving the calling of Christ but we cannot ignore the other things that come with it.

Be encouraged and join me in this fight!

A great follow up to this for further encouragement can be found in “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus